Filling device with vapor recovery means



March 21, 1967 J. MERO 3,310,077

FILLING DEVICE WITH VAPOR RECOVERY MEANS Filed April 17, 1964 JOHN L. MERO ATTORN EYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,310,077 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,310,077 FILLING DEVICE WITH VAPOR RECOVERY MEANS This invention relates to a device for recovering gasoline vapors that are normally exhausted to the atmosphere whenever a gasoline tank is refilled.

As gasoline is used from a gasoline tank, the empty space created in the tank by withdrawing gasoline, fills with gasoline vapors that are generally in thermodynamic equilibrium with the liquid gasoline phase remaining in the tank. When the tank is refilled with gasoline, these vapors are forced out of the tank and are exhausted to the atmosphere Where they constitute a hazard due to their explosive character. Many explosions have taken place and serious fires started by ignition of these vapors by sparks or open flames near the tank opening from which these vapors were being exhausted. On a warm day these vapors can be easily seen billowing from the gasoline tank opening.

In addition to being a hazard whenever gasoline tanks are being filled, these vapors constitute an economic loss as well as to the formation of smog. It is generally conceded by air-pollution engineers that unburned gasoline vapors are a prime ingredient of the materials that form smog. While most of these unburned gasoline vapors come from vehicle exhaust pipes due to incomplete combustion in the vehicle engine, an appreciable amount of these vapors come from that exhausted from vehicle, station storage, or transport tanks, when these tanks are being refilled. A conservative estimate places the loss from all such tanks, in the Los Angeles are alone, at several hundred tons of gasoline vapors per day, all of which is added to the atmosphere.

Also in filling a gasoline tank, the automatic shut 01f on the gasoline pump frequently is activated too late and some gasoline is spilled down the rear fender of the automobile. When this overflow gasoline spills on the ground, as it often does, it not only constitutes a hazard which requires the immediate attention of the station attendant to clean it up or wash it away with water, but, in addition, this gasoline will also evaporate and contribute to the formation of smog.

The spilled gasoline in running down the customers automobile fender leaves a gummy stain which the attendant also must clean up at some added expenditure of time and effort.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide novel and improved means for preventing loss of gasoline vapors and liquid during the filling of a tank;

(2) To provide novel and improved means for capturing gasoline vapors or liquid in the process of escaping from a tank being filled;

(3) To provide novel and improved means for recycling back to a tank, such gasoline vapors or liquid which are in the process of escaping from such tank during the filling thereof;

(4) To provide novel and improved means for the aforementioned purposes, which means is structurally simple and capable of being manufactured economically.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, largely in section through a device embodying the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of an important component of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken in the plane 33 of FIG- URE 2.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention, the device consists of a flexible cap 1 of bulb shape, which fits tightly on the spout 3 of the gasoline pump hose and has a flanged opening 4 through which the spout freely emerges. The diameter of the open end of the cap is such as to fit the opening of the gasoline tank with which it is to be used. As gasoline vapors are forced out of the tank being refilled, they are captured by this cap and drawn by suction into an opening 5 provided in the top side of the gasoline pump spout 3. This cap will also catch liquid gasoline that is thrown back out of the gas tank by overfilling.

Suction is generated at the spout hole 5 by a small venturi-like device 7 placed inside the gasoline pump spout 3 where gasoline flowing past the end opening 9 of the device reduces pressure at this point. In most gasoline pump spouts the velocity of the gasoline will be sufficient to generate adequate suction to produce the desired results without further additions. However, in large diameter spouts, an obstruction ring 11 will be placed in the spout near the end of the suction device 7, which ring will cause an increase in the velocity of the gasoline near the open end of the venturi tube.

The venturi device is able to condense the gasoline vapors drawn into it, by compressing and cooling the vapors. The vapors are cooled by the cold gasoline from the storage tank passing into contact with metal fins 13 mounted on the outside of the venturi device 7 and extending through the walls of the device where they are in contact with the vapors. As the gasoline vapors are drawn into the venturi device by the gasoline stream flowing past the venturi end opening, the vapors are compressed in the throat of the venturi and then cooled by transmitting some of their heat of compression and sensible heat to the metal fins in the throat of the venturi tube and through these fins to the cooler gasoline from the storage tank flowing over the section of the fins outside the venturi tube.

Leaving the throat of the venturi, the gasoline vapors undergo an expansion effect which causes them to cool further and condense into the gasoline stream flowing past the throat of the venturi. After passing the venturi and picking up the condensed gasoline vapors, the gasoline flow-s on through the gasoline pump spout 3 and into the gasoline tank filler tube 15.

An alternate method of condensing the gasoline vapors would be to draw the vapors from the inside of the cap 1 and cycle the vapors to a separate condenser unit flow connecting with the station storage tank. The amount of vapor recovered in this manner would easily repay the cost of the condenser after about a years use.

While I have illustrated and described my invention in its preferred form, the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporizable liquid, comprising a filling spout, a cap adapted to span the filling opening of such tank and seal the same when applied to said opening,

said cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and having an opening through which said spout freely emerges,

and means co-operating with said cap for recovering 3 liquid and vapor emerging from such tank during filling thereof.

2. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporiza-ble liquid, comprising a filling spout,

a cap of flexible material adapted to span the filling opening of such tank and seal the same when applied to said opening,

said cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and having an opening through which said spout freely emerges,

and means co-operating with said cap for recovering liquid and vapor emerging from such tank during filling thereof, said last means including means for cooling said liquid and vapor.

3. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporizable liquid, comprising a filling spout,

a cap of flexible material, adapted to span the filling opening of such tank and seal the same when applied to said opening,

said cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and having an opening through which said spout freely emerges,

said spout having a wall opening therein within said and a venturi device within said spout in the flow path of liquid through said spout and having an intake opening in registry with said spout wall opening.

4. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporizable liquid, comprising a filling spout,

a bulb shaped cap of flexible material, adapted to span the filling opening of such tank and seal the same when inserted in said opening,

said bulb shaped cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and having a flanged opening of smaller diameter than said opening and through which said spout freely emerges,

said spout having an opening therein within said cap,

and a venturi device within said spout in the flow path of liquid through said spout and having an intake opening in registry with said spout opening, said venturi device including means for cooling liquid or vapor drawn into said venturi device through said spout wall opening.

5. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporizable liquid, comprising a filling spout,

a bulb shaped cap of flexible material, adapted to span the filling opening of such tank and seal the same when inserted in said opening,

4 said bulb shaped cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and having a flanged opening of smaller diameter than said opening and through which said spout freely emerges, said spout having a wall opening therein within said p, and a venturi device within said spout in the flow path of liquid through said spout and having an intake opening in registry With said spout wall opening, said venturi device including a venturi tube having external fins in the flow path of the liquid through said spout and extending through the wall of said tube into the flow path of liquid or Vapor drawn into said venturi device through said spout wall opening to effect cooling of such drawn in liquid or vapor. 6. A filling device for filling tanks with vaporizable liquid, comprising a filling spout, a cap of flexible material, adapted to span the filling opening of such tank, said cap fitting tightly about said filling spout and havan opening through which said spout freely emerges, said spout having a wall opening therein enabling vapor flow communication from such tank opening to said wall opening, and a venturi device within said spout, having a discharge directed toward the discharge end of said spout and an intake opening in flow communication with said wall opening, to draw in vapors escaping from such tank opening when said filling device is used. 7. A filling device as recited in claim 6, characterized by cooling vanes in the flow path of vapor through said venturi.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,058,118 10/1936 White 141392 2,553,447 5/1951 Frecheimer 141-392 2,653,747 9/1953 Maida 141-392 2,763,419 9/1956 Brown et al 141-312 X 2,832,378 4/1958 Beavon 141312 2,908,299 10/1959 Gosselin 141287 FOREIGN PATENTS 627,184 9/1961 Canada.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. BELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FILLING DEVICE FOR FILLING TANKS WITH VAPORIZABLE LIQUID, COMPRISING A FILLING SPOUT, A CAP ADAPTED TO SPAN THE FILLING OPENING OF SUCH TANK AND SEAL THE SAME WHEN APPLIED TO SAID OPENING, SAID CAP FITTING TIGHTLY ABOUT SAID FILLING SPOUT AND HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAID SPOUT FREELY EMERGES, 